“I have plenty of love in my life, but thanks, Gabe,” I replied. I had my daughter. I had my parents. I didn’t need more. I was content.
“There’s still a little piece of your heart that needs filling, my friend. Don’t turn away from it, even if it doesn’t make any sense to you. It will.”
I didn’t know how to respond to what he said. I felt like my heart was plenty full. Clearly our conversation was over, though, and when he was about twenty feet away, I called out.
“Take care of yourself, Gabe.”
“I always do,” he replied without turning back around. As he walked away, I noticed a limp I hadn’t seen before.
I sat on the bench for a few minutes, watching Gabe hobble away and mulling over our conversation. He was a strange guy, but he also seemed rather insightful in many ways. His constant reminders of Samantha were off-putting at first, but somehow it just made me want to get to know her, and a twinge of disappointment I hadn’t run into her yet crept into my mind. If she was here visiting, I was bound to see her at one of the many events over the next week, but what would I say?Hey, the homeless dude you bought coffee for the other day said that you need to be in my life, and I’m inclined to find out why. What do you think?Unlikely to happen.
Gabe had disappeared. I had lost sight of him, distracted in my own thoughts. I knew I needed to get off the bench and get going. The afternoon I had to myself would be over soon, so I decided to head over to the toy store. I needed to pick up the bike I had ordered for Emily and get it home before she got back to the house.
Chapter Seven
Samantha
I still had a bit of shopping to get done, but I didn’t want it to interfere with any of the family time we had planned, so I headed downtown while the girls were still at school, and Robin and Michael were still at work. Of course I wanted to get some coffee first, so I made the coffee shop my first stop. I had borrowed some new gloves from my sister, who thought my exchange with the mystery man was hysterical. She grilled me incessantly to try to figure out if she knew who he was. She probably did, and when I blushed telling my story, it sent her into full detective mode.
I grabbed my coffee quickly but cautiously this time, looking around for any hot guys I might accidentally run into. Alas, there were none, just the usual folks grabbing their afternoon fix like me while out running holiday errands.
The next stop was the toy store. I’d already gotten the twins a couple of cute outfits that I’d found in Florida, but being the cool aunt that I am, they needed fun gifts from me too. They no longer dressed alike, and while they were still very close at eight years old, they had developed different personalities. Daisy was much like her name, full of energy and a bit of a dreamer with an active imagination. She loved reading. Delilah was her scientific counterpart. She had explained to me how the cells in the body do a variety of things, and from what her mother told me, she enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked.
The toy store in Friendship was small and unique, full of unusual gifts for children. Everything from children’s books to stuffed animals to mini laboratories was available there, so I knew I’d be able to find something fun. I could’ve taken the trek out to the mall, but it was over an hour away and would’ve been crowded with miserable people. Not to mention the fact that the gifts wouldn’t have been as cool and different. While meandering through the aisles, I found exactly what I wanted. An artist kit for Daisy and a miniature forensics laboratory for Delilah complete with fingerprinting and investigation tools. They’d love them.
As I walked toward the register to complete my purchase, I heard a familiar voice. It was him. The mystery man. He was in the toy store. My heart rate picked up, and my stomach dropped. I wasn’t sure if I was excited or scared, but before I could hide behind the giant teddy bear in aisle four, I was spotted.
“Samantha?” he asked.He knew my name. How did he know my name?
“Oh … uh … hi there,” I replied, attempting not to look like I was about to hide behind a colossal stuffed bear.
“How are you?” he asked, grinning broadly. He was just as handsome as I’d remembered with his closely shaven beard and striking blue-gray eyes that shone from the light in the storefront’s window.
“I’m good. I’m good.” It was like I’d forgotten how to form complete sentences. For an editor, I was lacking in any use of the English language.
“That’s good to hear,” he said. I wanted the moment to end, but I also wanted to think of something adorable or clever to say. If I could smack myself in the forehead without him seeing I would have.
“What are you shopping for?” It was the best I could come up with. Dorky small talk was what I’d been reduced to. I edit bestselling novels for a living, and I couldn’t come up with anything better thanWhat are you shopping forin a toy store at Christmas.
“Oh, my daughter’s bike. It’s about that time for an upgrade, so of course Santa needs to get one.”
I knew it. He was married with kids. Of course he was. Who would let a stunner like this guy go? I bet his wife was a knockout too. “That’s awesome. I’m sure she’ll love it. How old is she?”
“She’s eight. She’s at choir practice for the show right now, so I’m taking advantage of a few minutes to myself to get this taken care of. Who are you shopping for?” He looked at the items I was holding and then met my gaze again. “Looks like you’ve got an artist and a scientist on your hands?”
“Oh yes. These are for my nieces. They’re also eight. I like to get them one fun present to go with all the stuff their mom insisted they need. How boring to get what you need for Christmas.” I let a little giggle escape.
Letting out a laugh himself, he nodded. “Yeah, I agree. You get what you need when you need it. There’s no fun in opening up a wrapped pair of socks. Even as an adult that’s super lame.” He tilted his head, thinking. “Your nieces are both eight? Are they the Jameson twins?”
My eyes widened. He knew them. Oh, this was getting so much more awkward. “Uh, yeah. They are. How did you know that?”
He laughed again. “My daughter is in the same class as Daisy and Delilah. They hang out together … or play rather. I guess eight-year-olds don’t really hang out.” That made both of us grin, and I loosened up my death grip on the box of forensic tools for children.
“Small town, I guess.” I didn’t know what else to say, and my general awkwardness was about to return at any moment. Then I remembered that he knew my name, and I wanted to know how. “You knew my name, how is that?” I squinted at him suspiciously.
“Oh, Gabe told me your name.” He shrugged.
“Gabe, the homeless guy?” Why would he be talking to Gabe about me?
